When Wellsville-Middletown junior Meagan Cripe saw Columbia Independent freshman Kayziah Burgeson go down with a right ankle injury in the second quarter during a home game on Dec. 9, she didn’t waste time figuring out what to do.

So Cripe teamed up with Columbia Independent coach Keener Tippin II to help carry Burgeson back to the Lions’ bench.

“I went over and helped her,” Cripe said. “It was the right thing to do.”

Cripe not only showed good sportsmanship against Columbia Independent, but she also helped the Tigers hit the .500 mark by turning in a strong performance off the bench, scoring a game-high 18 points in the 67-6 victory over the Lions.

W-M improved to 3-3, making it the first time since the 2009-2010 season the program reached the .500 mark. Four days before, the Tigers picked up a road victory over South Callaway. They also had a win over Mexico in the Montgomery County Invitational.

“I think we’re doing great,” Cripe said. “I’m really proud of how we keep progressing from our freshman year when we were 4-17. Last year, we were 11-14. I think this is our strongest start since I’ve been here. I think this team has so much potential. We have to keep pushing and working hard in practice. But I think we’re going to go far in the next couple of years. I have only the best expectations for us.”

The Tigers will look to climb over the .500 mark on Dec. 16, when they take on the Montgomery County Wildcats in the Pink Out game at the W-M gymnasium. It’s also W-M’s Eastern Missouri Conference opener.

“It’s super important,” Cripe said. “I had never heard of a Pink Out game until I came here. I thought it was really cool that we’re supporting a cause and stuff like that. I thought it’s really awesome. I think it’s amazing that it is at home this year.”

Cripe was one of four W-M players in double figures against Columbia Independent. Sophomores Keigan Hall and Hallie Guzy each had 12 points and senior Natalie Boeckelman added 10.

The Tigers stormed to a 22-0 lead in the first quarter. Their 67 points marked a season-high.

“The girls did a nice job of coming out quick and getting the game out of reach early,” W-M coach Todd Cripe said. “Then, we were able to play with some different mixtures and different lineups. We were able to work on some sets against the 2-3 (zone defense), which I thought was sorely needed. I thought they did a good job with that in the second half.”

Meagan Cripe said she was happy with her team’s performance in its first home game of the season.

“I think we played really well,” the junior said. “We worked on stuff we needed to work on. It was a good start.”

Cripe applauded the effort from the Lions, who played with just five girls the rest of the game after Burgeson went out with her injury.

“All the power to them,” Cripe said. “I don’t know what we would do with five players. It takes a lot to play the whole game with just five players.”